Royal Birkdale sees Ryan Fox claim British Open ti...

By Bilal Ahmed — 20 July 2026 — 3 min read

Ryan Fox, a 39-year-old from New Zealand, secured his first major championship by winning the British Open at Royal Birkdale. Fox, ranked 56th in the world, birdied two of his final three holes, including the par-4 18th, to finish one shot ahead of Cameron Young. This victory marks a significant milestone in Fox’s career, adding to his previous wins at the BMW PGA Championship in 2023, the PGA Tour’s Myrtle Beach event, and the RBC Canadian Open last year.

Fox’s final round saw him shoot a 2-under 68, bringing his total to 10 under 270. He started Sunday one over through 12 holes but rallied with four birdies in his last six to clinch the title. The decisive moment came on the 18th hole, where he sank a 12-foot birdie putt. This put an end to Young’s extended wait in the clubhouse, where he had held the lead for over two hours after posting a 6-under 64.

A Dramatic Final Day

The final day at Royal Birkdale was filled with shifts in momentum and dramatic turns. Cameron Young, who began the day seven shots back, made a strong charge by starting with five straight 3s, including four birdies, to take the clubhouse lead at nine under. His impressive round of 64 included an 18th-hole bogey, but it was enough to keep him at the top of the leaderboard for an extended period.

The 54-hole leader, Sam Burns, who started with a two-shot lead at 10 under, struggled to maintain his position. Burns, who had a record of converting only one of five 54-hole leads or co-leads in his career, birdied the 2nd hole but then recorded bogey-bogey-bogey on Nos. 4-6. He was unable to make a birdie over his last 12 holes, ultimately finishing two shots behind.

Other contenders also saw their hopes rise and fall. Tommy Fleetwood, a local favourite, made bogeys on 9, 10, and 11. Si Woo Kim briefly emerged as the leader heading into the back nine but then made bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes, followed by additional late bogeys that led to a 40 on the back nine and a final round of 72. Scottie Scheffler, despite battling a cold putter, managed to stay in contention, making birdies on 16 and 17, but a bogey on 18 left him at seven under, tied for fourth with Fleetwood.

Key Moments and Controversies

The tournament was not without its controversies and notable performances leading up to the final round. Three players—Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns on Friday, and Ryan Fox on Saturday—each shot a 62, tying the major championship record. This highlighted the challenging yet rewarding nature of the course.

Bryson DeChambeau was involved in a rules controversy on Friday night, which added considerable drama to the event. He disputed a two-stroke penalty for inadvertently improving the area of his intended swing on his second shot on the 5th hole. This incident put the tournament and third-round tee times on hold. After the ruling, DeChambeau continued to hit balls on the range late into the night. Rory McIlroy commented on the situation, stating his belief that DeChambeau had improved his line of backswing and that the penalty was justified.

Fox’s path to victory included a crucial moment on the par-3 15th. His tee shot landed near the lip of a bunker, leaving him with no stance. He intelligently played away from the pin to the fairway, chipped from 45 yards to within six feet, and made a bogey. He described this save as being as important as any shot he hit until the last, helping to maintain his momentum. Fox’s final score of 10-under 270 earned him the Claret Jug and the title of Champion Golfer of the Year.